Hilltop Yarn

Hilltop has a good selection of both yarn and classes. The store has a homey ambience and the staff is helpful. They have a good selection of books and a good community connection.

Tricoter

I learned to knit at Tricoter two years ago. Many times, I felt that the instructor was not patient with me and that she was annoyed by our "newbie" questions. I don't find the selection at this store to be all that great and the prices are outrageous! The staff isn't very helpful and, in one instance I found a particular staff member downright rude! If you are looking for a hard-to find specialty yarn, this would be the first place to come to look for it.

PROS: Easy location to get to
CONS: Expensive and staff isn't helpful

Pastimes Yarns & Sittins Room

Pastimes has the BEST yarn selection in the entire Seattle area! I am an avid knitter and have been to practically every knitting store there is, and this is simply the best! Their class selection is extensive, varied and less expensive than most. I can also say, having taken many classes, their instructors are the best! The store sponsors knitting retreats and cruises, and they also have a book club and periodic "knit-ins." Whether you are a novice knitter or experienced, this is the store for you!

PROS: Great selection, reasonable prices, awesome classes and activities
CONS:

Admiral Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Shaffer is the best vet I have ever been to! He is really down to earth and loves all the animals. My dog is really nervous by nature, but he is so patient with her. His staff is awesome and his prices are reasonable.

Yuen Lui Studios

This studio is great for getting young children's portraits taken. We took my son here for his one-year-old portraits and the photographer was just great! She was patient and really took time to find out what my son responded to and really worked to get great photos. They also put a free rush on the pictures we ordered so that we could have them when we were going out of town. Very professional staff and really friendly!

PROS: Great staff, they work to get great pictures
CONS: Expensive

Kindercare Learning Center

While this KinderCare center is in a great location (right downtown), it is one of the worst experiences I have had with childcare. My son was enrolled in this center for several months, and it was a nightmare! I would frequently go in to get my son after work and walk into the infant room where children were crying away while one worker was attempting to care for all of them while the other would be just sitting around. One of my friends walked into the infant room to find that her son had been left completely alone, in a highchair, with no teacher or worker in the room! The administration of this center is terrible as well. Stay away!

PROS: NONE
CONS: Too many to list!

Green Tree Early Childhood Center

Located in the heart of downtown Seattle, Green Tree provides first-class childcare for working parents. I chose to put my son here because the school provides so many learning experiences for them: field trips to a variety of places in the downtown area, music classes at Soundbridge, and art classes. Their menu is totally vegetarian and the teachers are fabulous. While Green Tree is a bit on the expensive side, it is totally worth it!

PROS: Great environment, many learning activities, fabulous teachers
CONS: On the expensive side